GVH Exhibit: Before the Park: Early History of Washington Square

At the heart of Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park is a prominent and popular public space in lower Manhattan. Villagers fill the beautiful park to play, work, and gather around the fountain or iconic Washington Arch. But long before the park was officially dedicated as a city public place in 1826, many diverse groups inhabited the area and utilized it for different purposes. Washington Square’s history contains explorations and conflicts, celebrations and executions. Some remnants of this past can still be seen, and its interesting history helped shape the park and surrounding streets into the Washington Square we know today.